Beech C23 accident near Clifton, Virginia, December 9, 1984
On December 9, 1984 at about 9:42 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N6536R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clifton, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 1984 · about 9:42 pm local time
- Place
- Clifton, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6536R · no longer on the register · serial M1577
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING AT THE CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 2500 FT, THE PILOT NOTED A GRADUAL RPM DECREASE AND RESULTANT LOSS OF POWER. ALTITUDE COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED AND THE PILOT SELECTED A ROLLING OPEN FIELD IN WHICH TO LAND WHEN HE REALIZED THAT REACHING AN AIRPORT SEVEN MILES SOUTH WAS IMPROBABLE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL A STEEP INCLINE WAS ENCOUNTERED THAT COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR AND THE ACFT SLID. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT INDICATED THAT CONDITIONS WERECONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT APPLY CARB HEAT BECAUSE HE FELT THAT LIST IN THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK DOES NOT INCLUDE THE APPLICATION OF CARB HEAT. THE ENGINE WAS LATER RUN SUCCESSFULLY IN A TEST CELL WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,009 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,027 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 1984; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IAD Chantilly VA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: W70 Williamsburg VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from IAD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.